Milan down Auxerre

While Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, away at Ajax, were already assured of progressing, just two points separated Milan in second and Auxerre in fourth going into the match.

But with Real dispatching of Ajax 4-0, Ibrahimovic’s 64th minute strike and Ronaldinho’s stoppage-time effort were enough to book the Rossoneri a place in the last 16.

Ibrahimovic scored both goals in Milan’s 2-0 win in the corresponding fixture in September and the Barcelona loanee was the visitors’ chief architect early on, nodding down a long ball only for Robinho to volley over from 25 yards.

Massimo Ambrosini should have been sent-off with just 12 minutes on the clock after a two-footed lunge at Frederic Sammaritano but the Milan captain escaped without even a booking from referee Damir Skomina.

With Auxerre in the ascendency, Dariusz Dudka unleashed a fierce strike from the resulting free-kick which, after taking a deflection, forced a fine save from Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal.

Valter Birsa then nearly caught out Abbiati with a cross-cum-shot from the left which went narrowly wide of the upright.

Jean Fernandez’s Auxerre continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the play but Adama Coulibaly almost gifted Milan the opener, handing Gennaro Gattuso possession on the edge of the hosts’ box but somehow the former Italy international shot over with just Olivier Sorin to beat.

And Iganzio Abate raced to the byline soon after before whipping in a low cross which Sorin did well to smother with Ibrahimovic lurking.

Milan emerged for the second half with their tails up but wasted two early corners, unforgivably failing to beat the Auxerre man on the near post on both occasions.

Abate then did well to cut back to Robinho but the Brazilian failed to make space for himself and eventually saw his delayed shot blocked.

But Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock by setting off a quick break with a superb flick, before Clarence Seedorf's attempted through-ball was blocked into the path of the hit man, who lashed home from the edge of the box.

With Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan happy to sit back, Auxerre piled men forward in an attempt to rescue their Champions League campaign and Roy Contout fashioned a late half-chance on the turn but shot over.

And that just left substitute Ronaldinho to seal the deal, cutting in from the right and, with the Auxerre defenders backing off, curling a left-footed shot past Sorin.